India to levitate flying car

An Indian boffin appears to have got the jump on his US counterparts with a 12-rotor jambusting flying car.

Engineer Rakesh Goel expects the vehicle will be in production by 2004. He claims it is safer than a helicopter and ideal in crowded cities.

Mr Goel does seem, however, to have overlooked the consequences of giving the subcontinent's legendary drivers access to something which, in addition to left, right, forwards and backwards, can also go up and down.

Meanwhile, if you are among those eagerly awaiting delivery of your Moller Industries Skycar M400, you could always take it for a virtual spin. www.fsplanet.com has a Flight Sim 2000 download.